geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Soarer on Sun, 09 January 2011, 08:18:09
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(http://retroc.havnet.positive-internet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rm_nimbus_pc.jpg)
It was my first, and I used it for ages until it went wrong. Even then I kept it a long time before throwing it out. I wish I hadn't now :-(
Made (or more likely badged) by Research Machines in the UK, the front label says 'RM Nimbus' next to the indicator LEDs. RM had the contract to supply PCs to UK schools, so there were quite a few around back in 1987.
I haven't been able to find out much by googling around. The picture shows a PC-186, although it may have come with the 286 and 386 models as well these weren't as common.
Would love to find out what switches it used!
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Are the lock - LEDs quite wide apart?
I have seen keyboards on eBay (and in this forum) that have a very similiar-looking case, with either blue ALPS or Montereys. XT/AT switch underneath. The Scroll Lock LED doubled as power LED when in XT mode.
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Can't really remember, but fairly normal spacing I think, fitting in the gap to the right of where it says Nimbus. That bit is angled up slightly, across almost the whole width of the board, making a pen shelf.
Alps of some sort sounds about right, wish I could remember it better!
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I found a review (http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/bios_exp.html) of the keyboard that I was thinking of. It could have another brand name.
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The problem seems to be that back then all keyboards virtually looked the same (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=13674).
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Yes, all very alike! The one in that review is almost the same, the pen shelf in particular. But the LEDs are different, and the cable exit I think.
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Sixty, that is *almost* the perfect layout on that keyboard. If only the F keys were along the top...
Soarer, I never actually realized I could use the lip on my model M as a pen shelf until just now. Thank you for that. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the keyboard in question is.
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Well I guess the lip is just meant to stop crap falling into the keyboard... but that includes pens :-p
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The pen shelf could also be used to hold up a book, folder or notepad. That is, if you there is a box in front of the keyboard.